Reduction of GHGs associated with maple syrup production

Maple production is in fact a series of unit operations where the sugar is initially pumped from the trees to eventually be concentrated in the form of maple syrup. Different operations are involved in the process ranging from vacuum pumping, through osmotic concentration systems to end up with water evaporation residual. this last step is often the unit operation with the greatest impact on the generation of GHGs, particularly from a perspective where a conventional combustion system is employed in the evaporator. Indeed, the evaporators can operate with fuels such as wood, fuel oil, propane or even natural gas. In all cases, the carbon intensity of the process is not zero and in a perspective where maple syrup operations are called increasingly large in order to maintain their economic advantage, it is important to develop alternatives allowing to reduce GHG emissions at the most critical points in the process. As part of this project, a new approach will be considered to reduce GHG emissions from conventional (combustion) evaporators by optimizing the heat exchanges. These heat exchanges could also very possibly develop the technologies which in the long run will enable the marketing of dual-energy evaporators. This approach is also intended as a response to consumers of maple products who more than ever want a carbon neutral product.